The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘How I killed my brother after N120,000 ransom’

    ‘How I killed my brother after N120,000 ransom’

    Ibrahim Isa, alias Yellow, has confessed how he lured his brother, Kabiru Mohammed into the bush in connivance with a friend, held him hostage for five days and killed him after collecting N120,000 ransom.

    The suspect who made the confession during a parade of nine alleged criminals at the Kaduna State Police Command headquarters, said it was his friend who encouraged him into the act of kidnapping.

    He said it was his first attempt and it landed him in police net.

    According to the suspect, they kept the deceased with them for five days, tortured him to death even after N120,000 was received from the family as ransom.

    Although he said, it was not their intension to kill him, Isa said the victim suddenly gave up while he was being beaten.

    Read Also: 58-year-old robber ‘armourer’ killed in Delta

    Police spokesperson, DSP Muhammad Jalige, who paraded the suspects, said: “On the 30th March, 2023 at about 1428hours, one Ismail Mohammed, of Maijere village Saminaka, came to the Divisional Police Headquarters Saminaka and reported that on the 4th March, 2023 at about 1000 hours. the suspect Ibrahim Isa alias yellow conspired with One Mai-kunu now at large, kidnapped his brother Kabiru Mohammed of same address, took him to an unknown destination and demanded N5,000,000 ransom, that after collecting the sum of  N120,000 from the family they went ahead and killed the victim.”

    Jalige said the command within the last few weeks arrested 503 suspects for various crimes including armed banditry, armed robbery, theft, cattle rustling, culpable homicide, rape, burglary, vandalism of rail tracks and other related crimes.

    He said four AK47 rifles, three revolver pistols, two pump action guns, 2,800 railway slippers, nine vehicles of different brands, two tricycles, 209 rounds of AK47 live ammunition, 129 rustled cattle, eight sheep and two bags of dry leaves suspected to be indian hemp were recovered.

  • No plans to negotiate with bandits, others, Zamfara govt insists

    No plans to negotiate with bandits, others, Zamfara govt insists

    The Zamfara State Government yesterday said there were no plans to dialogue or negotiate with terrorists or any criminal group but would wage war against them until they were eliminated from the state.

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Nakwada, stated this while addressing reporters on the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal and that of his immediate predecessor, Bello Matawalle.

    Matawalle’s government had initiated a peace dialogue with the bandits, which was stopped in September 2021, due to persistent bandit attacks on rural communities.

    The SSG said the mission of Lawal’s government is to go after the criminals, flush them out and restore order and peace.

    He expressed the administration’s commitment to ensuring accurate record-keeping, transparency and accountability in governance.

    Nakwada warned that any public official who falls short of these ideals would face the consequences.

    Read Also: Zamfara bleeds, bandits govern communities, kill at will – Indigene forum

    Meanwhile, the SSG has said  the state government is in talks with the National Examination Council (NECO) to resolve the three years’ backlog of unpaid examination fees by the past administration.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government accused the immediate past administration of expending N17.5 billion for the construction of the International Cargo Airport, saying nothing meaningful was done on the project.

    The state government announced the suspension of permanent secretaries that were appointed after the 2023 general elections, as well as the newly created districts and village heads appointed from last December to May, this year.

    It also revoked the landed properties in some areas in Gusau that were considered not to have been done in the public interest.

    Nakwada assured workers and pensioners that the state government planned to pay salaries for this month and pension allowances yesterday to enhance their welfare.

  • ECOWAS, Commonwealth observers adjudge Sierra Leone polls ‘largely peaceful’

    ECOWAS, Commonwealth observers adjudge Sierra Leone polls ‘largely peaceful’

    •President leads vote count despite opposition dispute

    The ECOWAS and Commonwealth Observer Groups to Sierra Leone general elections yesterday said the polls took place “generally smoothly and in a largely peaceful atmosphere and eligible voters were able to freely participate in the process … despite some early challenges”.

    The challenges identified by the ECOWAS Mission included the late arrival of polling officials and materials, resulting in some voters being agitated, leading to the extension of balloting, with the counting and tallying of votes ending late in some polling centres.

    “The (ECOWAS) Mission commends the sense of patriotism exhibited by polling staff, the security forces, the general populace, who collectively played their parts in ensuring a peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections,” Head of Mission said in the Preliminary Declaration in Freetown Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

    “The Mission, however, expresses regret that major political parties pre-empted the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) by rushing to announce their “victory” in the polls before the official announcement by the ECSL,” the statement said.

    The mission, therefore, appealed “to all stakeholders, particularly the political parties, candidates and their supporters, the security forces and the general citizenry to remain calm and patiently await the announcement of the results by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone.”

    Also announcing the group’s preliminary findings, the Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said: “We were impressed by the significant turn-out of voters and the largely peaceful conduct of elections – a testimony to the will of the people to consolidate the democratic gains of Sierra Leone. It was observed that election actors conducted themselves as expected on election day.”

    However, the Observer Group noted key logistical challenges, such as the late delivery of election materials to polling centres and the delayed opening of polling stations.

    They highlighted that there were some cases of inadequate public communication from the Electoral Commission, gaps in levels of transparency and a deficit in public trust in the Electoral Commission and other key state institutions, such as the judiciary.

    Read Also: G-5 members absent as PDP leaders review performance at 2023 polls

    The group noted isolated incidents of skirmishes, police arrests and attacks on polling officials and political party agents and that a confrontation between security services and the opposition party on the day after elections had further flared political tensions.

    Prof. Osinbajo stated:  “We appeal to all political parties, their supporters and other stakeholders in the electoral process to continue to show utmost restraint and allow the Electoral Commission to discharge its mandate.

     “We urge all to continue upholding their commitment to the electoral pledge, signed by political parties on 25 May, with the same spirit of national unity, peace and solidarity.”

    Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio was leading the results of the country’s presidential election with 60 per cent of votes counted, the electoral commission said Monday, in a process disputed by the opposition.

    Bio had garnered 55.86 per cent of ballots cast, more than the 55 per cent required for victory after Saturday’s first round of voting, the commission said.

    The incumbent’s 1,067,666 votes put him ahead of his main rival Samura Kamara, who had 793,751 votes or 41.53 per cent.Final results were expected within 48 hours, according to election commission chief Mohamed Kenewui Konneh.

  • Wagner group completely funded by Russian state, says Putin

    Wagner group completely funded by Russian state, says Putin

    President Vladimir Putin has for the first time acknowledged that the Wagner Group, which mutinied at the weekend was fully funded by the Russian state.

    “We financed this group entirely,’’ Putin said during a meeting with troops, the Interfax news agency reported.

    The group, which describes itself as a private military company, had received a total of 86.26 billion roubles (1.01 billion dollars) from the state budget in the 12 months to May this year, Putin said.

    Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko yesterday confirmed Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozin has arrived in Belarus, according to state news agency Belta.

    Prigozhin agreed to leave Russia for its neighbour after calling off his troops – and yesterday morning, a plane linked to him landed in the capital, Minsk.

    Yesterday, Putin addressed the military, telling them they “stopped a civil war,” following the aborted Wagner rebellion.

    Read Also: Erdogan attends virtual ceremony with Putin amid health speculations

    In a meeting with top officials, he said the Russian state spent over $1bn funding Wagner in 2022-23.

    Meanwhile, preparations are under way for the Wagner mercenary group to hand over its heavy military hardware, Russia’s defence ministry says.

    The Director of the National Guard of Russia, Viktor Zolotov, has called for his force to be equipped with armour and heavy long-range weapons following the Wagner Group mutiny over the weekend.

    Zolotov said while the guard, which is responsible for domestic order, had artillery and attack helicopters at its disposal, it lacked weapons of this kind.

    He said the guard had focused on the access roads into Moscow during the mutiny and that while the Wagner group could have approached the capital, “they could not have taken Moscow’’.

    The 200,000-strong guard was set up by Putin in 2016 and is directly subject to presidential orders.

    Zolotov, who is seen as close to Putin, accused Western intelligence agencies of organising the mutiny in a bid to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “Of course, the mutiny was prepared and inspired by Western intelligence services, as they have said that they knew about it a few weeks before hand,’’ he said.

  • Police rescue seven, recover firearms, cash from kidnappers

    Police rescue seven, recover firearms, cash from kidnappers

    • •Drivers protest incessant abductions

     The police in Enugu State have rescued at least seven persons from kidnappers.

    The police also arrested a total of 15 male suspects for various offenses, ranging from conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, unlawful possession of firearms and fraudulent acts.

    Spokesman for the police command, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed these at a press conference in Enugu yesterday, adding that the arrests led to recoveries of seven firearms, two vehicles, a motorcycle, one dagger, cash sum of N701,000 and other incriminating exhibits.

    Ndukwe said four of the victims were rescued around 1pm on Sunday, after an intense gun fight with kidnappers in a forest at Aishi-Ette in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.

    According to him, the kidnappers, most of whom escaped with gunshot wounds, abandoned the victims due to superior firepower of the operatives.

    Accoridng to him, operations were carried out in collaboration with sister security agencies and local outfits.

    “However, one of the victims sustained a gunshot wound in his left thigh during the duel, but was moved to the hospital, is responding to treatment and in stable condition; while others and all the Operatives returned unscathed.

    Read Also: IGP to create new police Special Squad

    “The victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village, along Ette/Ogugu Road, on June 23, at about 9:30pm, on their way to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, from Ankpa, Kogi State. The hoodlums were said to have demanded ransom of N10,000,000 for each of them,” he said.

    One of the kidnap suspects, Ali Jubril, 25, Ndukwe said, was arrested on Monday, June 26, at about 2am, after a hotel was raided along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway.

    The N701,000 was found in his possession and he could not give satisfactory account of the money. A dagger was also recovered from him, the police spokesman said.

    Relatedly, over 100 drivers plying the Opi-Nsukka-Enugu road yesterday blocked the highway to protest incessant abductions of motorists and passengers.

    The motorists grounded movement on the busy road as commuters, motorists, tricycle and motorcycle operators were stranded for over one hour.

    Accoridng to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the protesting drivers chanted solidarity songs calling on the federal and state governments to bring the situation under control.

    The protesters bore placards such as “The primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property”; “The Air Force should join hands by using helicopters to locate hideouts of these kidnappers”;

    “Last week alone, three drivers and many passengers were kidnapped”.

    A commercial driver, Ben Onyeke, said the protest was to bring the attention of Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State, to what drivers plying Opi-Nsukka Ogbogo Enugu road were going through with their passengers.

    “This road has become kidnappers’ den as drivers and passengers are abducted daily.

    “Last week three of Sienna commercial drivers were kidnapped on this road and ransom paid before they were released.

    “Some of our drivers who escaped from being kidnapped  have their body and buses ridden with bullets by these hoodlums,” he said.

    Leader of the protesters, Chujwudi Offia, said constant kidnapping on Opi-Nsukka Enugu road had force many people to avoid travelling for fear of falling victim.

    Offia said this had affected patronage by passengers as the now struggled to get passengers in their park.

    “We are using this protest to tell Enugu State government and security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that these criminals are arrested and prosecuted…”

    Also speaking, Cosmos Agbo, a transporter, businessman and community leader from Opi described the level of kidnapping on that road as unfortunate.

    Agbo said he narrowly escaped being kidnapped on the road last week and was yet to recover from the shock.

    “Government’s primary responsibility is to protect lives and property of citizens; Enugu State Government should act fast to bring activities of these criminals to an end.

    “The state employed people who work as Forest Guards, government should direct the forest guards to go into the bush to flush out these kidnappers.

    “If kidnappers have taken over bush in the state, the question is, which bush are forest guards guarding in Enugu state?” he said.

    The community leader, however, urged the National Assembly to quicken the passage of community and state police bill, to reduce security challenges facing the country.

    NAN reports that intervention of Eha-Alumona Divisional Police Officer, Allen Evason, who addressed the protesters, made them remove the road block.

    Evason promised the protesters that kidnapping on that road would soon end as security agencies were working night and day to ensure those behind the crime were tracked down, arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

  • Woman sells neighbour’s child for N1.7m

    Woman sells neighbour’s child for N1.7m

    Operatives of the Lagos Police Command have arrested a woman, Deborah Olorunyomi and four others over the theft and sale of a three-year-old girl to different buyers.

    Olorunyomi, said to be a neighbour and acquaintance of the toddler’s mother, allegedly abducted the girl on June 9, from their residence at Ilupeju area of Lagos and sold her to a buyer, Glory Isaac, 25, for N400,000 at Onipanu Bus stop.

    Isaac, it was learnt resold the child to a couple in Mowe, Ogun Stare, Ezekiel Olajide, 45, and Ayaba Victoria at N700,000, who inturn sold the girl to one Arewa Babatunde, 47, a resident of Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    The Nation gathered that Babatunde further sold the helpless girl to one Jekami Idowu, 61, resident at Agbado, Ogun State for N1.7 million, where police operatives eventually recovered her last week.

    It was gathered that the last buyer, Idowu, enrolled the toddler, whose head was bald in order to make her unrecognisable, in a school on Folarin Street, Itoki-Agbado, Ogun State.

    Police operatives commenced investigation after the child’s mother filed a complaint on her disappearance. From investigations, the police were able to establish that the neighbour was the last person who was seen with the girl.

    Detectives were said to have gone after her, arrested her and from her confessions, the other suspected were trailed to Abeokuta, Osogbo, Mowe-Ibafo and Itoki-Agbado where each of the suspects were arrested and the child eventually recovered.

    Read Also: Police arrest woman over alleged theft of day-old baby for money ritual

    Confirming the incident on Monday, Commissioner of Police (CP) Idowu Owohunwa, said the child had been reunited with her parents, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted once investigations were concluded.

    Owohunwa denied that cases of child theft were on the increase in the state, insisting that there were only isolated incidents which the police resolved.

    He said: “There is no issue of increase in child theft in Lagos. From what I have, we had an isolated incident and based on prompt notification by well meaning citizens, the lady was arrested right at the point of the abduction in the hospital. “The baby was recovered from her. As I am talking to you, she is assisting the police to get to the depth of previous cases she was involved in outside Lagos. The point to emphasize here is that, no incident of child theft had gone unresolved. The criminals will be caught and the child recovered from them,” he said.

    Asked about the alleged notorious cultists that escaped police custody last month, the CP said one of them had been rearrested and he was assisting detectives to get to other members of his gang.

    “I would not want to give much details because he is assisting us to get other members of his group. We have even mopped up more members of his syndicate including a notorious one called 70, who has blood in his hands.

    “That’s the best I can say now because of the sensitivity and the depth of the network of the criminals we are trying to dislodge. As usual, once we are done, we will be accountable to the citizens. On the Naval Rating that was killed, the case is under investigation,” he said.

  • Ekweremadu: Ohanaeze meets British High Commissioner, pleads for leniency

    Ekweremadu: Ohanaeze meets British High Commissioner, pleads for leniency

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide yesterday urged the British government to show leniency to jailed former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

    The politician, his wife and their “middleman” were jailed for an organ-trafficking plot, after bringing a man to the UK from Lagos.

    Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife, Beatrice, 56, wanted a new kidney for their 25-year-old daughter, Sonia.

    The pair and Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, were previously convicted of conspiring to exploit the man.

    Ekweremadu, who was described by the judge as the “driving force throughout”, was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison.

    Speaking when the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu, one of the leaders of the group, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, said Ndigbo would be happy should Ekweremadu’s jail term be reduced.

    He said: “There is a very important issue that we have to bring to your attention. You’re aware of the case of Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was convicted and is in jail in your country. 

    “He’s from this state and we all know the circumstance he got entangled in that unfortunate incident because he wanted to save his daughter 

    “He is already serving a jail term. It’s unfortunate, but it has happened. I testified for him during the trial and in fact, the judge mentioned my name two times while delivering his judgment.

    “We’re using the opportunity of your visit to ask for leniency for him so that he doesn’t spend the number of years in jail. 

    “We have accepted the judgment, but are saying if there’s anything that could be done to reduce the jail term, it should be done.”

    President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, called for the setting up of a British visa office in the Southeast.

    He said the zone accounts for over 60 per cent of Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom, stressing that it was unfair that they were subjected to travelling to Abuja and Lagos to procure their visa.

    Iwuanyanwu, who recalled the long relationship between Nigeria and the British government, also appealed for bilateral collaboration to grow and develop the economy of the Southeast region.

    He identified insecurity that has now culminated in Monday-sit-at-home as part of the challenges threatening the region’s economy, saying the new leadership of Ndigbo was working hard to overcome it.

    Iwuanyanwu said Ohanaeze Ndigbo would soon set up a business council of prominent businessmen and assured that it would like to collaborate with the UK for mutual economic benefits.

    Read Also: Bamidele urges President to assist in Ekweremadu’s release

    He said Ohanaeze Ndigbo has placed a premium on education and agriculture to engage youths and reduce social malaise in the region.

    Montgomery, who said he was on a tour of the Southeast, added that the visit would afford him an opportunity to interact on areas of mutual collaboration with the British government.

    He said that the British government would continue to advocate for peace in the country, adding that it was delighted with the development efforts of the Igbo.

    Yul Edochie seeks Kanu’s release 

     Also yesterday, actor Yul Edochie urged President Bola Tinubu to release detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    He tweeted via his handle @YulEdochie: “To our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, @officialABAT GCFR, the Jagaban, a man who has fought for democracy for three decades, a builder and supporter of men and women; my president, please release Nnamdi Kanu – a humble request from your son, Yul Edochie.”

    Ohanaeze had on May 11 urged former President Muhammadu Buhari to free Kanu as a parting gift to the Southeast.

    Iwuanyanwu spoke at the flag-off of the Oguta/Orashi River dredging project in Degema, Imo State.

    Kanu was charged with violating the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013.

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja struck out the remaining seven charges after Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja had dismissed eight of the 15 amended counts.

    The appellate court held that Kanu’s extradition from Kenya in June 2021 was a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s extradition treaty and a breach of the IPOB leader’s fundamental human rights.

    It ordered Kanu’s release from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS), where he has been held since he was brought back to Nigeria.

    But, the Federal Government appealed to the Supreme Court and was granted leave to file nine new grounds of appeal.

    Iwuanyanwu, addressing Vice President Osinbajo, said: “Please, finally, our Vice President, tell our brother and son, President Buhari, that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo – the over 60 million Igbos – request that he should release Nnamdi Kanu.

    “He should release Nnamdi Kanu. Igbos are not seceding. I don’t see why anyone will say Igbos are seceding. Igbos are everywhere. We have investments. Are we going to leave our investments?

    “So, please, I am passing this message to him, because he is my President in Nigeria, but in the Ohanaeze, he has been honoured by us and he’s a member, so he’s my subject there.

    “I am now telling him that Nnamdi Kanu should be released before he (Buhari) departs (on May 29). We’ll be very grateful.” 

  • UK, Enugu to partner on economic programmes

    UK, Enugu to partner on economic programmes

    UNITED KINGDOM (UK) and Enugu State have agreed to partner on economic activities that would be mutually beneficial to both parties.

    The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery and Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, spoke of the plan after a meeting at the Enugu State Government House in Enugu.

    Mbah took advantage of the envoy’s visit to push for technical assistance from the UK government and the restoration of the UK visa facilitation center to Enugu.

    The governor said the centre will boost trade, business ties between the UK and the Southeast State.

    Montgomery, who expressed his support for the investment and economic growth drive of the new administration in the state, recalled that the UK had partnered with Enugu State for over 20 years on issues like public health sector reforms, education, power sector reforms, among others.

    The envoy said: “So, we are interested in continuing that partnership. I have been reading the press and the ways you have been seeking to already put your stamp on reforms and your ambitions for the state. I am here to listen, learn, and understand more about your priority and that of your new government to explore areas of further collaboration.

    “I understand that very important reforms are currently being made in Nigeria, trying to put the economy back on track and on a higher growth path.

    “We really hope that the South East and Enugu State will see more opportunities coming from the economy in the coming years.

    “There might be some short-term pressures and volatility to manage, but we can see the prospects for a higher growth path for Nigeria.

    “The UK is very interested in exploring partnerships on trade and investment and I have come to Enugu to understand your agenda and to explore those areas of potential partnership going forward.”

    Mbah described as Enugu’s consequential roles and place in the history of Nigeria, said the state was eager to regain its preeminent place.

    Read Also: Appointments: Arewa Economic Forum urges Tinubu to prioritise merit

    He said: “We have also shared an ambitious vision to the people of Enugu State on where we could get to in terms of our economy. One of the things we said to them is our ambition to transform Enugu to become a premier destination for investment, business, living and tourism. And we also have plans to eradicate poverty in the state, which is currently higher than the national average.

    “This is why your visit to us today is quite remarkable because we believe it is not a journey we can go alone. We need partnerships. We need collaborations in order to achieve that. Interestingly, we have a history of partnership with the UK, just as you have alluded to.”

    On the need to restore the British Council and the UK visa facilitation centre to Enugu, Mbah said: “I have told you some of the historic roles Enugu had played in the history of the South and there could be no better place to site a visa facilitation centre than Enugu. So, we are looking forward to that to boost trade, investment, and cooperation between the UK and our state.”

    Mbah informed that the state plans to host the Investment and Economic Growth Stakeholder Roundtable in September to herald the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum planned for April 2024.

    According to him, the Forum will showcase the investment potentials of the state and therefore solicited support towards developing those potentials.

    The governor urged the UK to give a helping hand in the areas  of power to develop and build the Enugu electricity market and the consequent regulatory commission, as power had been devolved to the Concurrent List in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

    “We are also interested in the private-sector-led green economic transformation where we obviously believe that we can participate in renewable energy so that most of our catchment power requirements can actually be attended to. So, the emphasis is on technical assistance and support.” Mbah told his host. 

  • Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir across the world

    Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir across the world

    • •Standing on Mount Arafat ends
    • • Pilgrims walk on world’s longest pedestrian path

    Olamilekan Andu

    Today is Eid-el-Kabir, also called Eid-el-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice or slaughtering of animals).

    The celebration is held across the Muslim world on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar.

    Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAW) recommended fasting on the first nine days of the month, climaxing on the Day of Arafat, the ninth day of the month.

    The Day of Arafat, according to the Sunnah of the Prophet, is devoted to prayers, reading the Holy Qur’an, asking Allah for forgiveness, and seeking His blessings on everyone.

    Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said Allah’s acceptance of the day’s prayers erases the sins of two years – the outgoing and the incoming years.

    But there is no fasting today.

    After returning from the eid prayer of two rakahs, led by an Imam, and the symbolic slaughtering of a ram by the Imam, other Muslims will follow suit returning home from the eid prayer.

    The Holy Prophet (SAW) enjoined Muslims to make themselves and other fellow beings, irrespective of their religious and ethnic leaning, very happy by sharing halal love, gifts, foods, drinks, and entertainment.

    The slaughtered animals are divided into three parts: for the owner; for other family members, friend and neighbours; and for the needy around.

    Last night, pilgrims in Saudi Arabia completed the hajj rites after standing on the Plain (Mount) of Arafat from dusk.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Our challenges surmountable, Tinubu assures

    Also, the ritual of standing on Mount of Mercy (Jabal Al-Rahma) in Arafat ended last night, marking the climax of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj.

    Pilgrims started their journey yesterday towards Muzdalifah by walking across the world’s longest pedestrian path.

    The pilgrims set off to their third destination through the walkway that connects the Holy Sites and extends from the Mount of Mercy area with the Holy Site of Arafat to the Holy Site of Mina, passing through Muzdalifah, as they will complete the Hajj rituals in Muzdalifah by spending the night and sleeping there.

    The longest pedestrian path in the world, which happens annually during the hajj season, witnesses the largest human traffic in the world.

    It includes four lanes with a total length of more than 25 kilometres.

    The length of the first road is 5,100 linear metres; the second is 7,580 linear metres; the third is 7,556 linear metres; and the fourth is 4,620 linear metres.

    The walkway is paved by installing interlocking tiles, in addition to the presence of chairs on its sides so that the pilgrims could sit and rest.

    The walkway is surrounded by 500 spherical concrete barriers to prevent the entry of vehicles.

  • Ochai takes over at NDA’s 32nd Commandant

    Ochai takes over at NDA’s 32nd Commandant

    Maj.-Gen. John O. Ochai has assumed office as the 32nd commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on June 26.

    He took over from Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, who proceeds on retirement after 33 years of meritorious service.

    At a brief handing and taking over ceremony at the NDA headquarters in Kaduna, Yusuf thanked God for a successful career and fruitful tenure as the commandant of the NDA.

    He expressed appreciation to the NDA community for its support and urged the officials to extend the same cooperation to his successor whom he described as a highly decorated officer and the right man for the job.

    Read Also: NDA gets new Commandant

    The erstwhile commandant described his relationship with hi successor as cordial, having worked together in different capacities, including 7 Division in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and at the Department of Operations of the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

    He congratulated Ochai on his appointment, wishing him a successful tenure in office.

    Ochai described his appointment as a privilege to serve, saying his primary responsibility is towards the cadets and staff development.

    The new commandant expressed appreciation to Yusuf, describing him as a great man and successful military officer.

    He added that it would be difficult to fill the shoes of his predecessor but said he had prepared to handle the responsibility effectively through mentorship and training.